Plural-fuse cut-out.



No. 697,935. Patented Apr. l5, I902. C. J. DORSEY. v

PLURAL FUSE CUT-OUT.

(Ap limtion filed Nov. 26, 1900. Renewed Sept. 5. 1901.)

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I,

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No 697,935. v Patented Apr. l5, I902 c. J. nonsev.

PLUBAL FUSE GUT-OUT.

='Application filed Nov. 26, 1900. Renewed Sept. 5, 1901.\

(No Model.) 4 2 Sheets$heet 2.

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(3 M vanlioz 197 Gumm ilNrrnn STATES ATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J. DORSEY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO ACME FUSE BOX COMPANY.,

PLURAL-FUSE CUT-OUT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 697,935, dated April 15, 1902.

Application filed November 26, 1900. Renewed September 5, 1901. Serial No. 74,389. (No model.)

7 T at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. Donsnv, a resident of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plural-Fuse Cut-Outs and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to Whichit pertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to plural-fuse cutouts and cut-out boxes for electric circuits, and has for its objects to simplify prior constructions and increase their efficiency.

The invention consists in the construction herein described and pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the plural-fuse cut-out when open. Fig. 2 is a central section of the same device closed. Fig. 3 is afront view of the cut-out when closed, and Fig. 4 is a partial elevation of a switch device.

Numeral 1 denotes a frame of any convenientor desirable form and material to contain metal electric connections and insulating material x. Preferably the frame is provided with brackets 2 for securing it to a car or other structure.

3 denotes a frame to hold a cover 4, and 5 represents hinges connecting the frames. If desired, the frame 3 may have a casing-plate 6.

7 denotes ventilating-apertures in the cover and its casing-plate. Theform and number of these openings are not material and may be varied at pleasure, or they may be dispensed with, without defeating the other parts of the invention.

9 and 10 denote Wires of an electric circuit secured, respectively, to a conducting bar 11 and a conducting-disk 12 by screws or equivalents 13.

15 denotes fusible conductors connecting the bar and a series of bent and straight conducting-blocks, (denoted by 17.)

To the disk 12 is fixed a ratchet-disk 14, coacting with a similar disk 18, fixed to noncondueting material 00. The ratchet has a sleeve rotating in a central opening in the fixed disk 18, as indicated in Fig. 2. It is not essential that the disks 12 and 14 be separate parts.

16 denotes a key having a non-conducting handleand a stop or shoulder provided with an index-finger to point to marks or figures I, II, III, IV, and V, correspondingin situation to blocks 17 within the cover or case. The key has a part angular in cross-section, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 4, and this part suitably fits a similarly-shaped opening in the disk and in the ratchet 14. The key is pivoted to turn in the case and operates to rotate the disk and ratchet 14. The key is retained in operative situation by a pin 20, situated within the case or in a recess 21 in its wall.

An electric circuit is established between the disk 12 and bar 1.1 by a spring 22, which may conveniently be made approximately in the form of the letter S, as indicated, though the particular form is unessential. By manipulating the key this spring can be used to electrically connect the disk with each of the several blocks 17 and with their respectively connectedfuses 15. The ratchetdisk holds the conducting-disk 12 under each of its adjustments. In practice the disk, pointer, and spring will be initially set as indicated in the drawings, and in case of the burning out of a fuse they will be suitably turned to establish connections through the next succeeding block 17. Several of these blocks are bent and arranged in connection with one straight block, as shown. The precise number of blocks is not material; but it is desirable to group their ends about the circuit-making disk, substantially as represented, in order to reduce the size of the device as a whole and to provide for the use of a single key and spring and avoid the necessity of removing the key in a structure using such spring as a contact-maker.

The fuses 15 may be of any suitable form and material and are made replaceable by means of securing-screws or binding-posts.

23 denotes channels or receptacles for the fuses. Preferably these and the blocks 17 and bar 11 will be formed or fixed, as the case may be, in the body of non-conducting material by molding said material in a plastic state and subsequently hardening it. The part of the cover having receptacles 23, which eoaet to inclose the fuses, can also be formed by molding and ventilating openings of any suitable shape provided therein, if desired.

While it is practicable to make the box of two parts molded from a non-conducting material or composition, other forms built up of separate pieces are not excluded. The frames that surround the nonconducting material are convenient and suitable, but not essential in all cases, and the two parts of the box or inclosure may be connected in any practicable manner and the non-conducting portions may be made partly or wholly of wood without departing from the invention.

A special guard to prevent fused metal being carried toward the disk 12 and welding the parts together is produced by a suitable groove or depression 25, formed in the blocks and in the intermediate non-conducting material. This groove is made to receive a rib 2%, formed on the body of non-conducting material in the cover, which rib being situated in the plane of the fuse obstructs the transportation of metaland prevents the Welding of a block and spring. Obviously the form and dimensions of the groove and rib may be varied, and it is further obvious that the means herein set forth for obviating the objectionable effects of excessive electrical currents are adapted to provide that fuseboxes of eomparativelysmall size and weight may be used with safety.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a plural-fuse cut-out, a series of parallel insulated fuses, a series ofinsulated conducting-blocks each adapted to be put in an electric circuit with a fuse, and a rotatable circuit-closing device having a path tangential to each block, said blocks being of unequal lengths and comprising parts that are curved to surround the circuit-closing device and present faces in the path of said device.

2. A series of fuses adapted to be successively put in an electric circuit, a fuse-box comprising parts separable near the plane of the fuses, a circuit-closer adapted to be electrically connected with each fuse in turn, said closer comprising a movable ratchet and a corresponding fixed ratchet, the latter being fixed in one part of the box and the other carried by the other part of the same.

3. A series of fuses adapted to be successively put in an electric circuit, a fuse-box comprising parts separable near the plane of the fuses, a circuit-eloser adapted to be electrically connected with each fuse in turn, said closer comprising a movable ratchet and a corresponding fixed ratchet, the latter being fixed in one part of the box and the other carried by the other part of the same, a ratchetoperating key, and a spring pressing the ratchets together, said spring and key being carried with the same separable part of the box that carries the movable ratchet.

4:. A series of fuses adapted to be successively put in an electric circuit, a fuse-box. comprising parts separable near the plane of the fuses, a circuit-closer adapted to be eleetrieally connected with each fuse in turn, a series of conducting-blocks in the path of the circuit-closer, each of said blocks being provided with a groove, means for connecting a fuse to each block, and non-conducting ribs adapted to enter the grooves, the blocks being situated in one part of the box and the ribs in the other, and the ribs extended transversely through a plane passing between the parts.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES J. DORSEY.

\Vitnesses:

Tues. G. BAILEY, Mrs. B. HUBBARD. 

